First step – Plan Ahead.
The biggest investment you make into networking is your time. And most people don’t budget it adequately to maximize their results. They show up late and leave early. Reverse this – show up early and leave late – and give yourself enough time to connect with people before and after meetings officially start.
Here is a little secret I’m going to share with you that very few people do. Plan and block time to evaluate your results after the meeting.
Was that group a good match for you?
Look …

Did you know that Max Factor was a marketing genius? Yep, the Polish-born emigrant-turned-cosmetic-industry-giant virtually pioneered the make-up business as we know it today. And you won’t believe the strategies he used to get the rich and famous of his era to clamor for his services and products.

But what’s even more important is that his strategies can be simply replicated in your business to attract all the new and repeat clients you want. Here is how…

Earlier today I was helping a client develop a better strategy to generate more referrals from local businesses. While that particular client owns an orthodontic practice, the ideas I gave him will work equally well in your business.

Before I tell you the specifics, let’s first establish two premises:

60% of all small business owners, sales and solo-professionals claim that more than half of their new business comes from referrals. Yet when asked about the process they so successfully use to get those referrals and turn them into paying clients, most will have a puzzled, deer-in-the-headlights, stupefied look on their face, and keep quiet.
Only a handful of professionals can clearly articulate where their referrals consistently come from and how they turn them into a new business.
Those that do – understand the power of a system and frequency of exposure. …

When five years ago I was faced with having to sell my services for the first time I was terrified. I hated asking for the sale. I dreaded the part where my potential clients inevitably came up with objections why they couldn’t use my services.
I’ve since learned that lack of objections is not necessarily a good thing. In fact, I now welcome it when prospects tell me “why they can’t”.
When a potential client shares his reasons why he or she hesitates to take advantage of my offer, to me it’s …